$65.75M grant positions Lawson as Canadian leader in workplace-injury research

Massive research investment by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) to St. Joseph’s Health Care London will transform occupational illness and injury

LONDON, Ont. – A “game-changer” investment of $65.75 million to Lawson Research Institute (Lawson) of St. Joseph’s Health Care London, (St. Joseph’s) will transform the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of workplace injuries and illness for Ontarians.  

The visionary 10-year commitment is the WSIB's largest-ever research injection; the largest non-government research investment in London history; and the biggest single grant stewarded through St. Joseph’s Health Care Foundation.  

The landmark investment will bring people, technology and science-backed innovation together to launch the first-in-Canada Occupational Injury Prevention and Treatment Network. Its focus on novel solutions in workplace health will serve Ontario’s workforce, and its innovations will have worldwide impact.

Landmark work, global leadership  

“This is a game-changer, something that will transform how we work together to get ahead of work-related injury, pain and mental illness,” says Lisa Porter, PhD, Vice-President Research at St. Joseph’s and Scientific Director at Lawson, the research arm of St. Joseph's. “This investment will propel us to global leadership in finding solutions to some of the most pervasive issues affecting workplaces today.”

Occupational injuries and illnesses – including chronic pain, physical disability and mental health conditions – have a significant impact on many people, families and businesses in Ontario. Every year, they account for almost 250,000 claims registered through the WSIB, with benefit payments of approximately $2.5 billion.

“Too many Ontario families experience the human cost of workplace injury,” says Jeffery Lang, President and CEO of the WSIB. “We want fewer injuries to happen, and if they do, to be able to help people with a safe and faster recovery. This research is going to help us get there – and with their established expertise, St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Lawson team is a natural partner for this important work.”

Investment and innovation

The network will innovate long-term solutions to prevent mental and physical injuries, accelerate recovery and ensure sustainable health for the workforce.  

It will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure and expertise including:  

• A first-in-Canada positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imagery (PET/MRI) scanner enabling research into rapid and accurate diagnosis of mental health conditions including post-traumatic stress and depression
• A cutting-edge Computer-Assisted Rehabilitation Environment (CAREN), a unique, virtual-reality environment that will test and solve workplace injury, rehabilitation and chronic pain in new ways
• Three new endowed research Chairs and teams of scientists solving the most critical research questions plaguing people injured at work, an investment that will ensure long-term consistency and sustainability of the work
• Deploying technology in data science, artificial intelligence (AI) and virtual reality, making the network accessible by centres and workplaces across Canada
• Rapid-access research area to design and test assistive devices such as splints and mobility technology  
• Leading research initiatives specific to health-care practitioners in employee wellness, resilience and mental health solutions for occupational trauma

St. Joseph’s President and CEO Roy Butler says, “We know that discovery-driven, patient-focused research improves lives – that is the focus of our hospital-based research at Lawson, and we’re humbled that the WSIB has entrusted us to expand this vital work to minimize the effects of workplace injury, disease and disability. This significant investment will drive innovation opportunities that will translate into novel new treatments and tools that can be used to battle workplace injury and illness.”

He adds, “This investment will enable us to leverage the deep expertise St. Joseph’s already has in mental health, chronic pain and rehabilitation, and creates the opportunity to expand our knowledge to support workplace wellness, including for frontline health-care workers.”

Foundation President and CEO Michelle Campbell says, “Donors to the foundation invest in research because they know that innovation leads to healthier people and healthier communities. It’s a partnership of promise, a confident stride towards better outcomes for patients. The WSIB’s research grant is a whole new level of leadership, and we’re proud to be integral to this transformation in workplace health.”

As the network hub, St. Joseph's will use its vast community and research partnerships throughout London and across Canada, in multiple collaborations across a wide range of health disciplines.  

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Media package is available, with downloadable B-roll, headshots, photos and fact sheet

For interviews or more information, contact:

Debora (Flaherty) Van Brenk
Communication Consultant, St. Joseph’s Health Care London
C: 226-577-1429 or 519-318-0657
@email

OR

Christine Arnott, 
Public Affairs Manager, WSIB
@email

About Lawson Research Institute: Lawson Research Institute, the health innovation arm of St. Joseph's Health Care London, is committed to making and sharing discoveries that improve lives locally and internationally. Every day, Lawson researchers work to transform imagination to innovation to patient impact. Lawson leads health-care research. Find us online at sjhc.london.on.ca/research and on social media @stjosephslondon